Re: The T20 World Cup. With the T20 World Cup you may as well pick the winner out of a hat, or at least the finalists. T20 is such a hit-and-miss format, little more than a lottery. There’s no rhyme or reason to tip anyone in any game, almost anyone can beat anyone, even the “lesser” sides, which I guess to some is probably a good thing. Maybe it is, but I’m not so sure.
I think Andrew Symonds said (ironically in hindsight, as he became such a disciple of the format) following the first T20 World Cup (in 2007 I think?) when Zimbabwe beat Australia, that it was a frustrating format because the “lesser teams” sometimes could beat the big teams. Or words to that effect.
So very sad to read about the demise of the beautiful Edmund Herring Oval on the Domain.
I live in QLD now but have so many memories playing there for MHSOB Thirds in the VJCA in the late 70’s/early 80s under Al Grant - a funny guy. I was in my mid-late teens. Here are some of my faves: ………
1. One innings I came in with 2 balls to go before tea. First ball from a fast medium bowler in the slot was driven straight back for six smashing a window in the pavilion. 2nd ball I square cut for a four.
Oppo guys saying to me walking off - geez - you must make a lot of runs here. Me - not really. I was out - clean bowled first ball I faced after tea.
2. Hitting a a 6 into a tram on it’s way to South Yarra and Toorak.
3. Taking 3 of the best outfield catches in succession at mid off that anyone who witnessed the feat had ever seen. The description of each would take too long.
4. Rocking up late to play with a friend after we’d both been up all night on LSD and us both looking “worse for wear” shall we say. The skip Al takes one look at us - I’ve one the toss and we are batting - and you idiots are opening. So began a lot of blocking and leaving an not much scoring apart from edges ….. for a long time.
5. Playing in a games when Paul McCartney and Wings were doing a soundcheck at the Myer Music Bowl for a concert that night. They played “Whiter Shade of Pale’ and the game just stopped for a minute …..
There are many more but these spring to mind. Great times and a beautiful oval now sadly gone it seems.
One more memory - playing for Melbs High School Firsts against Scotch College in a midweek school comp. We won the toss and sent them in. Mark Lee - the Richmond VFL footballer - all 6’6” of him opens the bowling - his nickname was “Lurch”.
I’m fielding at first slip to a right hand batter and our keeper and skip Spiros Beasley instructs me to stand well away from him almost at a second slip position. I’m about 2 metres back from him. First ball - fast half volley outside off stump gets the big woosh and catches the edge and flies low and fast to where first slip should really be.
Keeper flys horizontally with an outstretched right glove in front of me . Ball ricochets from the underside of his glove towards the ground as I dive behind him and manage to hold it in the fingertips of my left hand a couple of inches above the grass. He’s OUT !
Lurch went on to get 7 for 1 off a handful of overs and Scotch were bowled out for 13.
We won the game. I made a golden duck opening the batting.
I played numerous games of house footy at Edmund Herring, but it's claim to fame (in my memory, at least) is that in 1976 I snuck over for a post prandial dart behind the clubhouse with Henry Bray while there was a concert on at The Bowl, and in the dark tripped over a couple having a root. Typical of Dan to butcher posterity.
Re: The T20 World Cup. With the T20 World Cup you may as well pick the winner out of a hat, or at least the finalists. T20 is such a hit-and-miss format, little more than a lottery. There’s no rhyme or reason to tip anyone in any game, almost anyone can beat anyone, even the “lesser” sides, which I guess to some is probably a good thing. Maybe it is, but I’m not so sure.
I think Andrew Symonds said (ironically in hindsight, as he became such a disciple of the format) following the first T20 World Cup (in 2007 I think?) when Zimbabwe beat Australia, that it was a frustrating format because the “lesser teams” sometimes could beat the big teams. Or words to that effect.
Watching DIG right-handed is definitely a bit disorienting, but not nearly as much as DKL bowling left handed! 🤯
So very sad to read about the demise of the beautiful Edmund Herring Oval on the Domain.
I live in QLD now but have so many memories playing there for MHSOB Thirds in the VJCA in the late 70’s/early 80s under Al Grant - a funny guy. I was in my mid-late teens. Here are some of my faves: ………
1. One innings I came in with 2 balls to go before tea. First ball from a fast medium bowler in the slot was driven straight back for six smashing a window in the pavilion. 2nd ball I square cut for a four.
Oppo guys saying to me walking off - geez - you must make a lot of runs here. Me - not really. I was out - clean bowled first ball I faced after tea.
2. Hitting a a 6 into a tram on it’s way to South Yarra and Toorak.
3. Taking 3 of the best outfield catches in succession at mid off that anyone who witnessed the feat had ever seen. The description of each would take too long.
4. Rocking up late to play with a friend after we’d both been up all night on LSD and us both looking “worse for wear” shall we say. The skip Al takes one look at us - I’ve one the toss and we are batting - and you idiots are opening. So began a lot of blocking and leaving an not much scoring apart from edges ….. for a long time.
5. Playing in a games when Paul McCartney and Wings were doing a soundcheck at the Myer Music Bowl for a concert that night. They played “Whiter Shade of Pale’ and the game just stopped for a minute …..
There are many more but these spring to mind. Great times and a beautiful oval now sadly gone it seems.
Magnificent. There should be a plaque in your honour.
Hahaha ……dunno about that but thanks.
One more memory - playing for Melbs High School Firsts against Scotch College in a midweek school comp. We won the toss and sent them in. Mark Lee - the Richmond VFL footballer - all 6’6” of him opens the bowling - his nickname was “Lurch”.
I’m fielding at first slip to a right hand batter and our keeper and skip Spiros Beasley instructs me to stand well away from him almost at a second slip position. I’m about 2 metres back from him. First ball - fast half volley outside off stump gets the big woosh and catches the edge and flies low and fast to where first slip should really be.
Keeper flys horizontally with an outstretched right glove in front of me . Ball ricochets from the underside of his glove towards the ground as I dive behind him and manage to hold it in the fingertips of my left hand a couple of inches above the grass. He’s OUT !
Lurch went on to get 7 for 1 off a handful of overs and Scotch were bowled out for 13.
We won the game. I made a golden duck opening the batting.
When the MH First XVIII played MGS on the MGS main oval, the umpire Mr Nethercote sent Lee off.
Why was that ?
Can't help you there. But I've got a vague notion it might have been demonstrative back chat.
I played numerous games of house footy at Edmund Herring, but it's claim to fame (in my memory, at least) is that in 1976 I snuck over for a post prandial dart behind the clubhouse with Henry Bray while there was a concert on at The Bowl, and in the dark tripped over a couple having a root. Typical of Dan to butcher posterity.